Autumn is a great time for a road trip.
This is a layout I created for the Flying Unicorn as Product Creative Artist. It was published in the September issue of of the Flying Unicorn's Enchanting Creations. I used Authentique Journey papers, some flowers, and a Crafty Secrets stamp set--all from theFlying Unicorn on-line store.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Revisiting something I previously made in order to participate in the Oh La La link party in order to meet the deadline. I created this a while back using images from Green Paper and the Graphics Fairy.

and I posted my shabby chic or French inspired collage (at the top of this post) for the Oh La La link party.

BLOG CANDY ALERT:My friend Georgie is having a tag give away on her site, Puddin n Pie. You can have up to four entries to win some lovely tags that she made. Be sure to stop by and tell her that I sent you over!

At the Flying Unicorn, we have a Spotlight Member of the Week in the Gallery section. Then in the Challenge section of the Forum, we have a weekly challenge to "lift" the spotlight member. This is a fantastic way to get to know the art and style of the spotlight member. This past week Gisele was the in the spotlight. One of the items she has in her gallery is a foil tag. That was what I decided to lift.

Gisele had crumpled foil; I ran mine thru the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder. Then I applied some alcohol ink for the same effect she had. The treats sticker and the witches' hats sticker are Fancy Pants Oct. 31 Glitter Cuts from the Flying Unicorn Store. The green brad is Pink Paislee Phantom also from the Flying Unicorn Store. I used some black netting that I rescued and reused from a ham wrap.

I'm entering this in the Be Transparent Challenge #26 at Vicki's The Cheerful Stamp Pad because the Glitter Cuts are transparent.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Please check out the wonderful Shared Moments inspiration provided by our close-knit Gingers on the Gingersnap Creations blog and then link up your creation by October 16. Perhaps you'll win the Viva Las Vegastamps prize or be chosen as one of the ten Ginger Gems.

This month we're also focusing on spotlight techniques. I chose to color only the jealous girl so that the focus was on her feelings. Most of the color on the card is to right of her as well. hmmmmmmm........ do you think the girls are still friends?

I used the following two stamps from this month's sponsor, Viva Las Vegastamps:Jealous GirlLucy, You Got Some 'Splainin' to Do

I thought the stamp worked perfectly for the spotlight technique. And I love the sentiment I chose to pair with the stamp!

Also after stamping, I cut out the image and used pop dots for dimension "sitting on the wall". Normally I outline my image with black marker but this time I left a beige edge all the way around to contrast with the papers behind it yet have a softer effect.

Monday, September 19, 2011

I made my first easel card! Rather than make the typical rectangular shape, I decided to make a round one using the new Graphic 45 Magic of Oz collection which I fussy cut. I had some black circle cards in my stash so I adapted two of them to create the easel, following the Splitcoast Stampers' tutorial.

This is the first autumn post for me. I'm working on a fall look for my blog so you'll probably see several blog backgrounds until I settle on one I like. But the weather definitely is in transition, and I'm gearing up for the Halloween season. I love making Halloween art. Do you?

If so, you'll want to mark your calendar for our month long SCRAPAWEEN event at the Flying Unicorn Forum. I suggest you join the general Forum now, if you haven't already, so that you can look around, get comfy, and even participate in our September challenges. Then starting October 1, the Scrapaween direct link will take you to the October fun!

From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night

Gerri Herbst and I are both Official Gingers at Gingersnap Creations and we're both Product Creative Artists at the Flying Unicorn. So I want to wish Gerri a happy one year blogiversary and to tell you GERRI HAS BLOG CANDY! Here's the link to her blog, It's All Treasure

The flip issue also is on my sidebar. Just click on it and you'll get the entire issue uploaded for browsing.

As Product Creative Artist for the Flying Unicorn, I created a card and a tag with the new Echo Park Apothecary Emporium collection. I also made a steampunk layout with Graphic 45 papers from the Magic of Oz and Steampunk Debutante collections.

My teammate at Bella Creations is this month's Spotlight Artist. Starr Timmons has some amazing work in this issue.

October 14 is the deadline for submissions for the November issue of Enchanting Creations. The November call is for Family, Thanksgiving, Time is Running Out--Projects with Clocks, Gifts of Thanks--Handmade Projects. See page 2 of the magazine for details.

You'll also find in the current issue the sketch challenge. Winner receives a 12 x 12 paper pack collection of Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium. Be sure to check out those details on page 11 of the magazine.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Even though I haven't posted any new art in a week, I've been trying to follow and comment on as many blogs as possible. And welcome to all my new followers!

My friend Lacee, owner of Bella Creations, asked each of us on her design team to create a tag for her mini album. Since this is a keepsake, I decided to use my toddler bonnet photo that is my avatar. I added the crown because I'm Queen Helene of my kingdom Scrap a Lot.

The paper and crown rosette are My Mind's Eye from the Lost & Found collection because Lacee told me that was the paper she was using for her album. 2 = Tinsel Foil Thickers from American Crafts; am = The Paper Studio Spare Parts alpha sliders. Lacee likes butterflies so I added a Studio 18 Charm Breloque to some of her crinkled seam binding that was in a Bella Creations kit. The black Dresden trim is from Alpha Stamps.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

This month's sponsor is Viva Las Vegastamps. I chose two of their stamps to work with: Two Ladies in Hats and a sentiment, Will Trade Coffee.

The green patterned paper and pink label are from the Crafty SecretsClassic Paper Pad from the Flying Unicorn store. I used Copic markers, ribbon, and a corner punch from my stash.

Please check out the wonderful Gal Pals inspiration provided by my fellow Gingers on the Gingersnap Creations blog and then link up your creation by October 2. Perhaps you'll win the Viva Las Vegastamps prize or be chosen as one of the ten Ginger Gems.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Bella Creations has just released its Sew Vintage embellishment kit for September! For my design team work, I chose to make a chunky ATC with my goodies:

What you're seeing is some Graphic 45 paper glued onto a chunk of wood. The corset, crinkled seam binding, clothes pins, silver charm, and tissue pattern for the flower are all in the kit.

I took the corset and ran it through a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then highlighted with Ranger tea dye distress ink.

This month's Bella Tres Chic challenge is to include some real or faux stitching so I used the Tim Holtz Sissex texture fade to put some stitches on the side.

I made an ATC for the back of my chunky using this month's image for the Bella Muse challenge. I glued it onto ink distressed canvas and added some ric rac, a snap, and then, from the Bella kit, the adorable silver sewing machine charm. The Muse image is from the Graphics Fairy so I'm linking this up to the Graphics Fairy Brag Monday.

This is the other side with some fabric from a previous Bella kit, although this kit comes with lots of lovely fabric swatches, as you can see here in the photo of the Sew Vintage kit:

Fabric is one of the needed elements for this month's Bella Tres Chic challenge. I just love how I can use these clothespins to hold notes and things on my desk top chunky ATC decor. It actually stands up on those two dime store thimbles.

This month's Bella Unique challenge is to make a tissue flower. I, of course, used the tissue pattern that came in the Sew Vintage kit. While still folded up, I inked the edges with Ranger Walnut Stain distress ink. The vintage button is from my grandma' collection.

Being the Queen of the Last Minute Club, allows me to enter the following challenges as this project was made after these challenges were posted:
Vicki Romaine--The Cheerful Stamp Pad Challenge #25 Let's Reuse
chunk of wood, old sewing label, thimbles, tissue sewing pattern, clothespins, vintage button

To purchase the Sew Vintage embellishment kit, go to Bella Creations. You'll see it on the main page.

Lacee also has for sale this month a beautiful mini album kit, Rose Petals, and a wonderful 12x12 kit, So Chic, that is offered in several color palettes. You can see them all by starting here at our Bella Creations Blog. Did you know we have a group just for Bella members who are working with the kits? And don't forget the main three Bella challenges that I talked about: Tres Chic, Bella Muse, and Bella Unique! Prizes for each of the 3 challenges: this month from Copic Markers, the Crop Stop, and the Flying Unicorn.

We also have a guest designer with us each month who gets to work with the kit. Our Bella du Mois for September is Lean de Ruiter.

My Oh La La group this month is working with a beautiful set of 3 mannequin images from our sponsor, Gecko Galz. Everyone who uses the free images to enter our September challenge, will receive, via email, an ephemera set from Gecko Galz. There is so much going on at Bella Creations. Won't you join us?

Thursday, September 1, 2011

September first brings with it many wonderful announcements from the Flying Unicorn. Grab a cuppa and visit for a while because I've got lots of important news to tell you.....

As a Product Creative Artist for the Flying Unicorn, I'm busy creating some new things for the Enchanting Creations magazine which will be out later in the month.

In the Flying Unicorn forum, I'm hosting the challenge: Pick A Pocket. You are allowed up to three entries and can make any type of art using any type of pocket. Here are a couple of my examples which are from my past artwork:

Won't you join me over at the Flying Unicorn Forum? I'll be posting a few more pockets that I've incorporated into my art and you'll find lots of inspiration from the Creative Team and Forum members. And here is the prize for the challenge winner, chosen by random draw at the end of the month. Prize is provided by the Flying Unicorn.

AND FOR THE BIG NEWS: The Kit of the Month is revealed today: A Joy to Remember. It's available in the Flying Unicorn Store here.There's lots of wonderful Kaiser products in this kit. The Kit of the Month Creative Team has made some outstanding creations for you to view.

At the Flying Unicorn, we are proud to announce that Maggi Harding is our Guest Creative Team Member for the month of September!! Maggi and I were on a design team together in another lifetime, so I'm thrilled to be working with her again. I love her vintage/shabby chic style. Here's a link to her blog: Scrap, Travel & Bark! Maggi will be providing wonderful inspiration all month with her outstanding work.